Patient care technician vs patient sitter

The differences between patient care technicians and patient sitters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a patient care technician has an average salary of $32,806, which is higher than the $29,649 average annual salary of a patient sitter.

The top three skills for a patient care technician include patients, vital signs and phlebotomy. The most important skills for a patient sitter are patients, BLS, and CPR.

Patient care technician vs patient sitter overview

	Patient Care Technician	Patient Sitter
Yearly salary	$32,806	$29,649
Hourly rate	$15.77	$14.25
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	167,520	188,756
Job satisfaction	5	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 27%	Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Average age	34	42
Years of experience	-	3

What does a patient care technician do?

Patient care technicians are medical workers who work in clinics, hospitals, or other medical facilities under the supervision of doctors or other health professionals. They provide assistance to health professionals and patients. They help patients with mobility concerns get into hospital beds, bathrooms, wheelchairs, and more. They also help patients with their physical therapy sessions and other physical needs. They handle patient concerns and communicate these to attending physicians. They may be assigned to administer basic medical procedures such as checking vital signs and collecting samples from patients, among others.

What does a patient sitter do?

The primary job of a patient sitter is to provide patients with care and companionship. You will be responsible for a few duties that always include supervising patients, assisting them with basic personal hygiene and care, and monitoring their vital signs. As a patient sitter, you are expected to refrain from doing unauthorized or additional functions, identifying changes in patient's conditions, and maintaining patient information confidentiality. You are also expected to comply with relevant standards, procedures, and policies.

Patient care technician vs patient sitter salary

Patient care technicians and patient sitters have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Patient Care Technician	Patient Sitter
Average salary	$32,806	$29,649
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $43,000	Between $21,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	Rochester, NH	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	Vermont	Washington
Best paying company	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	Carondelet High School
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between patient care technician and patient sitter education

There are a few differences between a patient care technician and a patient sitter in terms of educational background:

	Patient Care Technician	Patient Sitter
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 27%	Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	Emory University	-

Patient care technician vs patient sitter demographics

Here are the differences between patient care technicians' and patient sitters' demographics:

	Patient Care Technician	Patient Sitter
Average age	34	42
Gender ratio	Male, 19.0% Female, 81.0%	Male, 21.5% Female, 78.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.5% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	15%	7%

Differences between patient care technician and patient sitter duties and responsibilities

Patient care technician example responsibilities.

Manage care and prepare medical records, transcription and supply orders.
Manage daily care of high acuity patients with neurological trauma/disorders and post-surgery.
Qualify to perform patient care responsibilities on catheter patients.
Transport patients using wheelchairs and stretchers and assist patients to ambulate safely.
Assist with transferring patients in and out of wheelchairs, recliners, and stretchers.
Apply protective restraints safely and appropriately, assist in the admission, discharge and transfer of patients as needed.

Patient sitter example responsibilities.

Conduct and facilitate PCA lead group activities as scheduled
Apply restraints to violent and combative patients.
Maintain OSHA and HIPAA compliance with regulatory standards.
Train in techniques for physical restraints (CPI).
Provide therapeutic companionship and close observation of patients in a safe and clean environment
Transport patient to MRI department.

Patient care technician vs patient sitter skills

Common patient care technician skills

Patients, 24%
Vital Signs, 9%
Phlebotomy, 7%
CPR, 6%
Direct Patient Care, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

Common patient sitter skills

Patients, 41%
BLS, 12%
CPR, 7%
Customer Service, 6%
Patient Observation, 5%
Continuous Observation, 4%

Patient Care Technician vs. similar jobs

Patient Care Technician related careers

Patient Care Technician related jobs

Patient Care Technician jobs by location

Zippia Careers
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Patient Care Technician
Patient Care Technician vs Patient Sitter

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs